Health Benefits Of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has been used by the human race since ancient times for numerable reasons. It is said to have a positive impact on various areas of the human body such as the skin, hair, bones, teeth, cholesterol, digestion and weight.

All these positive influences can be credited to the occurrence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid in the oil.Coconut oil is also known to have antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal and antibacterial characteristics that add to its worth.

Owing to the presence of short and medium chain fatty acids, coconut oil aids in reduction of weight by increasing the rate of metabolism. The consumption of this oil is said to be good for the digestive system as the antimicrobial properties guard the body against indigestion. It is also useful in the cure of pancreatitis, and prevents liver, kidney and gall bladder diseases.

A habitual hair massage with coconut oil not only nourishes the hair, but can help in stress relief as well. It provides the hair with significant proteins, conditions the hair, removes dryness and is a definite answer to dandruff and lice problems.

Coconut oil is also extremely good for the skin. It moistens skin of all kinds and also helps to delay signs of ageing such as wrinkles and sagging of skin due to its antioxidant properties. The oil assists in the treatment of certain skin infections such as psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema.

Research has shattered the age old myth that coconut oil is harmful for the heart due to the presence of saturated fats. Over the years, it has been brought out that these saturated fats are not deleterious for health as they do not elevate the LDL levels. On the contrary, the lauric acid in the oil is beneficial in reducing high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Thus, it actually helps in prevention of heart diseases.

Coconut oil is known to build the body immunity, and protect the body from various infections caused by bacteria, fungus and virus such as influenza, herpes, hepatitis, pneumonia, athlete’s foot, urinary tract infections, ringworm and diaper rash. The oil has strong healing power and is immensely beneficial when applied on bruises. Coconut oil also proves to be good for bones and teeth as it aids in the absorption of minerals such as calcium that are vital for both these organs. Finally, the oil is considered to reduce the probability of viral infection causing the deadly diseases of HIV and cancer.

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History Of Coconut Tree

In layman terminology, coconut is the fruit of the coconut palm. However, botanically it is slotted under a drupe and not a nut. In fact, the coconut is actually the largest seed in the world. The name ‘coconut’ was coined in 1555 by the Spanish and the Portuguese. The shape of this fruit reminded them of the word ‘coco’ that denoted ‘monkey face’. More..